The Rolling Stones band is facing a battle to win a $12.7 million insurance claim for the concerts they postponed when Mick Jagger’s girlfriend. L’Wren Scott, died.
L’Wren Scott took her own life in March 2014, prompting the Stones to postpone a tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The group had taken out a policy to be paid in the event shows were cancelled due to the death of family members or others, including L’Wren Scott.
However, underwriters say L’Wren Scott’s death may not be covered by the policy.
In denying the claim, they say L’Wren Scott might have been suffering from a pre-existing mental illness which could invalidate the policy.
The 12 underwriters have now won permission to seek evidence in Utah – the state where L’Wren Scott was born and raised – about the fashion designer’s mental health.
A federal judge has allowed the underwriters to gather testimony and documents from L’Wren Scott’s brother, Randall Bambrough.
Randall Bambrough told the AP news agency that he did not know about the court case naming him and had not been contacted to provide information about his sister.
According to documents filed in the court case, Mick Jagger was “diagnosed as suffering from acute traumatic stress disorder” after L’Wren Scott’s death, and was advised by doctors not to perform for at least 30 days.
The Rolling Stones began a new tour of Australia and New Zealand at the end of last month.
However, they had to cancel their Melbourne concert on November 8 after Mick Jagger developed a throat infection.
Mick Jagger, 71, is under strict doctor’s orders to rest his vocal cords, according to an official statement.
The Rolling Stones is due to play in Sydney on November 12.
All fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will receive a refund for the Melbourne show, according to the organizers.
